St George's Day: Barrow kids 'celebrate English traditions'

St George's Church of England Primary School gave its children the chance to dress up to mark the national celebrations.

They were encouraged to sport their favourite red and white clothes or emulate their favourite princesses and knights, with some even becoming the dragon from the legends.

Headteacher Steve Herbert said: "It's something we have done for a few years now.

"The children really enjoy dressing up in red and white, being a princess or a knight - and, of course, we had a fair few dragons to slay."

Pupils were encouraged to celebrate the saint their school is named after (Image: St George's C of E)

He explained the belief at the school is that it is vital for its pupils to embrace these traditions and to have a chance to celebrate both the school and being English.

But, according to the headteacher, the day was also an opportunity for them to be taught about how the saint encapsulates international cooperation and similarities.

Brave knights and princesses arrived in Barrow on Tuesday (Image: St George's C of E)

"It's so important the children celebrate English traditions," Mr Herbert added.

"It's a great story but also gives us a chance to talk about how St George actually is an international saint and what he stood for. 

"It's possible to have fun, be proud and show tolerance of others at the same time."

As Mr Herbert commented, St George may have grown to be a key part of the English identity but he was actually born in Cappadocia, which is now modern day Turkey.

He is thought to have died in Lydda in the Roman province of Palestine in AD 303, a victim of the persecutions of the Emperor Diocletian after refusing to make a sacrifice in honour of the pagan gods.

His feast day, April 23, has since been celebrated in England from the ninth century onwards, with these children in Barrow looking to carry these traditions on into the next generation.